Current-distributer for power-looms having electrical stopping and signaling devices.



Patented Dec. .23, 1913.

. KOEGHL CURRENT DISTRIBUTFR FOR POWER LOOMS HAVING ELEG'lRlGAL STOPPING AND SIGNALING DEVICES.

APPLIOILTION FILED JULY22,1911. 1 082, 129

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

ALBERT GEORG KOECHLIN, 0F STEINEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOIPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

CURRENT-DISTRIBUTER FOR POWER-LOOIviS HAVING ELECTRICAL STOPPING AND SIGNALING DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913;

' Application filed July 22, 195.1. Serial No. 639,939.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT GEoRc KoEoH- LIN, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Steinen, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Current-Distributors for Power-Looms Having Electrical Stopping and Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to power looms fitted with devices whereby in certain cases such as for instance the breakage of a Warp or a weft thread, the completion of a piece length of fabric, the completion of a certain number of spool changes during a determined period of time, and the like, the loom is stopped automatically by electrical means and a signal is given showing that the loom has been stopped. These devices act by closing an electric circuit so soon as one of the aforesaidc'ases occurs, whereupon an electric current actuates mechanism which moves the knocking off lever out of its normal retaining catch so that it can snap back into its stopping position. This back movement of this lever is utilized for inserting an electric lamp in circuit which gives the aforesaid signal to the attendant and at night time lights up. the loom until the latter is started again. Hitherto a separate switch connected. by separate leads to the source of current has had to be provided for each device of this kind, so that the loom installation becomes very complicated and diflicult to overlook in cases Where a 'number of such devices are employed in one loom.

N ow the present invention has for its object to provide simplified apparatus of this kind in which all the stopping and signaling devices are connected to a common curstopped. Fig. 5 is a similar plan of the distributer when the loom is working. Fig. 6 is a similar plan of the distributer when the loom is stopped for examination and repairs. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the distributer fitted to the loom part of which is shown in section, and Fig. 8 is a plan thereto. I

a is a closed box containing a pin 6 which is mounted slidably in bearings and carries on it a body 0 of insulating material of which the middle portion is encircled by a metal sleeve d. The current supplied from one pole of a dynamo or storage battery to a terminal 6 is led thence by means of a contact spring f to the metal sleeve 01'. A second Contact spring 9 connects this sleeve through a safety fuse in to a terminal i whence separate leads are led to the "arious stopping devices. For instance a lead is is led to the Warp stop motion; a lead Z is led to the weft stop motion, a lead m is led to the piece length measuring ofl device, and a lead n is led to the stopping device which acts when a certain number of spool changes have been made in succession during a short space of time, and so on. A third contact spring 0 connects the metal sleeve d through a, safety fuse 3) to a terminal g from which a lead 7* is led to a glow lammounted on the loom. The other pole o the dynamo or storage battery is preferably connected directly to the iron loom framing which turn leads from the various devices are required. Outside the box there is provided a latch 8 adapted to be turned into notches t, u of the pin 6 which has a tendency to be shifted to the left by a spring '2).

The box a is mounted at a point of the breast beam w of the loom where the knocking o'li lever a: or a stop 3 adjustably fixed thereon, can strike the pin 6 and move it to the right when the lever is moved into the position in which it stops the 100111. By this movement the pin Z is forced in opposition to the pressure of the spring '0 into the position shown in Fig. at in which all the contact springs are in contact with the metal sleeve (Z. If this position is to be maintained even after the loom has heenrestarted, the hitch s is turned into the notch t. Otherwise the pin .6 the body 0 are moved 1 tips a: the position shown in Fig. 5, in which the insulating portion of the body is in contact. with the contact spring 0 and consequently the glow lamp is cut out of circuit. The contact spring however remains also in thisvposi- 1 tion in contact with the metal sleeve (Z and is there'ltn'e ready to supply current to any lead that may be included in circuit.

When it is desired to examine the loom for any reason while it is workingor when it is stopped, without desiring to bring the various stopping devices into operation, but while keeping the loom illinninated, then the pin 7) is moved by hand to the right until the latch s can he turne into the notch u whereby, the body 0 is held in the position shown in Fig". (3. In this position the con tact spring 9 is in contact with the insulatingportion of the body 0, so that the leads leading to the stopping devices are cut out of circuit, but the load. 1" leading to the glow lamp remains in circuit.- Since the safety fuses 7a and 7) will melt as soon as any short circuiting takes place, all risk of danger in the wm'king of the loom is excluded.

The intervening connections between each of the leads is, Z, m, and n, and the knocking-oft lever or shipper handle, and the connections between said lever. and the loom clutch or belt shifter are not shown, because well known in the art and constituting in' themselves no part of the present invention. It is common in electric stop motions to pro vide a magnet and electric circuit connections which are rendered operative when the contingency happens for which the stop motion is provided, and to associate the mag net with the knocking-oil lever or shipper handle in such manner that the shipper handle is unlatched when the magnet is energized. Such electric stop motions are disclosed. in the United States Letters Patent of Chacc, No. (333,976, September 26, 1899, and of Coldwell and (.iildard, No. 11,923, reissued July 30,1901, both of which describe warp stop motions and in my British Pat entNo. 26,575, November i6, 190%), which describes a stop motion for stopping the loom in case the Weft-replenishing mechanism acts too frequently. Appropriate connections between the shipper handle and the belt shifter are shown in United States Letters Patent of Northrop, No. 593,070, November 2, 1897. Accordingly, the shipper handle 0, here illustrated is representative of the well-l nown mechanical Features of the stop 'motion, and the leads 70, Z, m, and n, are representative of the well-known electrical features of the stop motion. The stopping contact g, is a part of the stopping circuit and app n'tains to the electric stopping features, and the signaling contact 0, is a part of the sie'naling circuit and appertains to the signaling features. The knockingotl lever is the representative part of the stopping mechanism which directly acts when the loom stops upon the movable memher 5, of the current distributer.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a loom having electrical stopping and signaling; devices and a knocking-oi? lever, a current distributer for conducting the electric current to the electrical features of said sttn'iping and signaling devices having, in combination, a longitudinally slidable pin in the path of the knocking-oil lever, an insulatiirg body thereon, a metal sleeve at the middle of said insulating body, a terminal for the electric current, a contact spring on said terminal adapted to connect it with said sleeve, a contact spring appertainingto the electrical stoppingdevices and normally in contact with said sleeve, :1 contact spring in circuit with the electric signal. and normally contacting with the insnlatiing l)()( y, a spring pressing said pin toward the knocking-oil lever into its normal position, the coaction of the parts being such that when the knocking oil lever ofthe loom is moved from the working position to the inoperative position, said pin is slid against the action of said spring into a position in which both of said contact springs bear upon said sleeve.

2. In a loom having electrical shipping and signaling devices, stopping mechanism, a current distributer for bonducting" the electric current to the electrical features of said stopping and signaling devices having, in combination, a longitudinally slidablc pin, an insulating body thereon, a metal sleeve at the middle portion of said insulating bod v,'a circuit terminal in contact with said sleeve, a contact spring appertaining to the electrical stopping devices and normally in contact with said sleeve, a cont-act spring in circuit with the electric signal and noianally contacting with the insulating body, a spring messing said pin into its normal position, 1.

the co-action of the .parts being such that when the looin stops, said pin is slid against the action of said spring by a part oi. the

stopping mechanism into a position iii-which both said contact. springs bear upon said sleeve.

3. In a loom having; electrical stopping and signaling devices and stopping 1nechanism, a current distributer tor cornlncting the electric current to the electrical features of said stopping and signaling devices hav ing, in combination, a longitudinally slidable pin having an insulating body and a metal section. a circuit terminal in contact with said section, a contact spring; appertaining; to the electrical stopping devices and normally in contact with said section, a contact spring in circuit with the electric signal and normally contacting with the insulating body, a spring" pressing said pin into ncsssiae its normal position, the coaction oi the parts 7 being such that when the loom stops said pin is slid against the action of said spring by a part of the stopping mechanism into a position in which said signaling contact spring bears upon said section.

4. A. current distributor for looms having electric stopping; and signal devices comprising, in combination, a movable member having an electro-condilctive section, a circuit terminal in contact with said section, two electric contacts cooperating with said section, one of said contacts appertaining to the stopping devices and the other to the signaling devices, said movable member having three positions, in the first of which the stopping contact touches said conductive section but the signaling contact does not, in the second both contacts touch said conductive section, and in the third the signaling contact touches said @Ction but the stopp' no contact does not, a spring" for moving; said member in one direction, the knocking-off lever of the loom which moves said member in the opposite direction when the loom stops, and means for locking the movable member in its second and third positions, said means including two notches in the movable member and a cotiperating pivoted latch. a

5. A'current distributer for looms having electric stopping and signal devices comprising, in combination, a movable member'having an electro-conductive section, a circuit terminal in contact with said section, two electric contacts cooperating; with section, one of said contacts appertaining to the stopping devices and the other to the signaling devices, said movable member having three positions, in the first of which the stopping contact touches said conductive sec-- tion but the signaling contact does not, in the second both contacts touch said conductive section, and in the third the signaling contact touches said section but the stopping contact does not, a spring for moving said member in one directioiuthe knocking-oft levcr of the loom which moves said men'iher in the opposite direction when the loom stops, and means for locking the movable member in its second and third positions.

(3. A current distributer tor looms having electric stopping and signal devices comprising, in combination, a movable member having an electro-conductivc section, a circuit terminal in contact with said section. tu'o electric contacts cooperating with said Hctvtion, one of said contacts a 'ipcrtaiuiug to the stopping devices and the other to the nahng done A movable member 1 which stopping contact. touches said section but the signaling; ocular; in the second both cont; is low ductive section, and in the tin paling contact touches said section but the stopping contact does not, aspring for moving said member in one direction, the knocking-ott lever oi the loom which moves said member in the opposite direct-ion when the loom stops, and means for locking the movable member in its third position.

7. A. current distributor for looms having electric stopping and signal devices comprising, in combination, a movable member "having; an electro-conductive section, a circuit terminal in contact with said section, two electric contactscotiperating with said section, one oi? said contacts appertaining to the stopping devices and the other to the signaling devices, said movable member having two positions, in the first 053 which the stopping contact touches said conductive section but the, signaling contact does not, and in the second the signaling contact touches section but the stopping contact does hot, a spring for moving said member one direction, mechanism which moves said member in the opposite direction when the loom stops and means for locking the movable member in its second position.

8. current distributer for looms having electric stopping signal devices comprising, in combination, movable member having an electro-conductive section, a cuit terminal. in Contact with said section, two electric contacts coti'perating with said section, one of contacts appertaining to the stopping devices and the other to the signaling devices, said movable member having three positions, in the first of which the stopping contact touches said conductive section but the signaling contact does not, in the second hoth contacts touch said conduc tive section, and in the third the signaling contact touches the contact but the stopping contact does not, and aloom-stopping mechanism cooperating with said movable memher,

9. it current distributer for looms having stopping and signal devices compris- 1 combi *rtioma movable member havn electro-conductive section, a circuit il in conta'ct with. said section, two contacts ccierating with said seeone contacts appertaining to evices the other to the ces, said movable member havin the first of which the electric uches said col'iductive contact was not,

e signaling contact niches lint,

to. stopping contact does not, a a a loom-stopping mechanism cocpcratin with said. movable member.

ving electrical signaling g; mechanism, current trihater for co ducting the electric curi to the elect c-s having, combination,

'cal of said signaling movable member in the path of'a movable part of the stopping mechanism and having an electro- (UlldllCtiVG section, a circuit terminal in contact with said section, and a si aling contact appertaining to the signaling devices and normally out of touch with said conductive section but which touchessaid section when said member is moved as the result of the stoppage ofthe 1oom, and 9.

loom-stopping mechanism cooperating with 10 said movable member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- ALBERT GEORG KOECHLIN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE Gmonm. ARNOLD ZUBER. 

